Firing mechanism for multiple burner heating apparatus



A rifi 25, 1%? T. F. STONE ETAL FIRING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE BURNER HEATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTORS. THEODORE F. STONE. OZBEK DUZEY.

ATTORNEY.

pril 1957 T. F. STONE ETAL FIRING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE BURNER HEATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1965 cuucuu m OE INVENTORS. THEODORE F STONE. OZBEK DUZEY. BY wj "zm ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O M 3,315,655 FIRING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE BURNER HEATING APPARATUS Theodore F. Stone, Syracuse, and Ozbelt Duzey, Liverpool, N.Y., asslgnors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,328 8 Claims. (CL 126-91) This invention relates to heating apparatus and, more particularly, to a multiple burner heating apparatus having an improved burner firing mechanism.

In heating apparatus of the type employing a multiplicity of spaced, independent burners, the cost and complcxity inherent in providing an individual firing mechanism for each of the several burners soon becomes prohibitive as the number of individual burners increases. And, while numerous arrangements for firing plural bumers by means of a single pilot or spark source have been proposed, many known multiple burner firing arrangements are not totally reliable, are overly complex, and interfere with the normal combustion process.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved firing mechanism for a multiple burner heating apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved firing arrangement for a heating apparattts having a plurality of individual vortex-type burners which effectively utilizes the vortex pattern established by the burners to propagate a pilot flame into intimate contact with the combustible mixture to be ignited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple burner lighting mechanism which enables a single pilot source to light the burners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting mechanism for multiple burners of the vortex type which utilizes the vortex action generated in the burners to transmit a pilot flame from burner to burner and thereby permit lighting of all burners from a single pilot flame source.

This invention relates to a heating apparatus comprising the combination of means forming a plurality of individual heating elements, each of the heating elements including a heat exchanger member and a burner arranged to introduce a combustible mixture into the heat exchanger member; means for introducing pressurized air tangentially Into the burners to cause combustible mixture in the burners to swirl and form a vortex; and means for igniting the heating elements from a single pilot flame including conduit means opcratively connected between the heating elements or transmitting a pilot flame into juxtaposition with the combustible mixture vortex in each burner whereby the vortex distributes the established pilot flame throughout the combustible mixture to ignite the mixture and fire each of the burners; and means for generating a pilot flame in operative association with the conduit means.

Other objects and advantages realized by applicants improved firing mechanism will be more apparent from the ensuing description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view with parts broken away of a heating apparatus showing the burner ignition means of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away of the heating apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIGURE 1 showing the heating apparatus vortex generating means;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing a modified form of burner ignition means; and

Patented Apr. 25, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along line VV of FIG- URE 4 showing the pilot fiame transmitting arrangement for the modified burner ignition means of FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a heating apparatus designated generally by the numeral 1 is therein shown. Heating apparatus 1 comprises a burner mechanism 2, a plurality of generally U-shaped heat exchanger tubes 4, and a flue collection box 5. Flue collection box 5 communicates through a suitable flue pipe or stack (not shown) with the atmosphere to permit the egress of the products'of combustion from the heating apparatus.

Heat exchanger tubes 4, which are preferably disposed in side-by-side relationship, are encased in a suitable housing (not shown). Medium to be heated. such as air. is caused to pass through the housing as by means of a suitable fan (not shown), the heated air being distributed by suitable ductwork to the area or areas to be heated.

Burner mechanism 2 includes an elongated enclosure 8 encasing a plurality of tube-type burners I0. Heat exchanger tubes 4 protrude through wall 9 of enclosure 8. Partition member 12 separates enclosure 8 into a burner compartment 13, combustion air compartment 14, and ignition compartment 15. Burners are secured between the terminal ends of heat exchanger tubes 4 and wall 17 of partition member 12. Burners 10 may be secured to wall 17 of member 12 by cooperating screw and nut means l8, 19 respectively.

Burners 10 each include spaced concentric inner and outer tube-like parts 22. 23 which delineate pilot and gas ports 20, 27 respectively. The end of pilot port 20 is enlarged at 26. Preferably, the area between port 20 and opening 26 is tapered to present a relatively smooth transition surface. One end of outer part 23 is tightly secured to base 25 of part 22. 7

A generally cylindrical cup-like casing 28 is arranged about outer tube-like part 23, the base of casing 28 tightly abutting part 23 and base 25 of part 22. Parts 22, 23 and casing 28 may be joined together as by brazing. Vortex generator 32, comprising a hollow generally cylindrical member, is scalingly secured between part 23 and casing 28 as by brazing. Casing 28, vortex generator 32 and tube-like part 23 cooperate to form chamber 34. Openings 31 in part 23 communicate chamber 34 with port 27. Line 35 connects chamber 34 with a suitable source of combustible medium, such as natural gas.

The upper part of vortex generator 32 is dimensioned so as to snugly receive the terminal end of heat exchanger tube 4 protruding through wall 9 of enclosure 8. Vortex generator 32 has a series of lateral passages 38 therewithin, the axis of passages 38 being tangential of the axis of vortex generator 32. This construction may be seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

Conduit 40 communicates combustion air compartment 14 with a suitable source of pressurized combustion air. Openings 41 in wall 17 of partition member 12 communicate burner compartment 13 with compartment l4. Opening 42 in supply line 35 allows primary mixing of combustion air in compartment 13 with the gaseous medium flowing through line 35 to burner 10. Secondary mixing oticombustion air with the combustible mixture in burner 10 is effected by passages 38 in vortex generator 32. There the pressurized combustion air, which enters the burner 10 tangentially, causes the combustible mixture passing through burner 10 Into heat exchanger tube 4 to'swirl into a vortex-like pattern.

A'burner Ignition or pilot tube 45 is spacedly positioned below burners 10 In compartment 15. Openings 46 In wall I6 of partition member 12 communicate combustion air compartment l4-with lgnitioncompartment 15. Pilot tube 45 communicates with the source of combustible medium.

Pilot tube 45 is provided with a series of relatively closely spaced perforations 48 along its length as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Perforations 48 are arranged so that a combustible medium is discharged through perforations 48 in a direction generally longitudinal of tube 45. When lighted at one end, the combustible medium emitted from perforations 48 cause the flame to travel along the length of tube 45 thereby establishing a pilot flame along the entire length of the tube 45. Suitable secondary ignition means such as pilot light 49 may be used to light tube 45.

Pilot tube 45 has a series of spaced openings 50, substantially larger than perforations 48, therein. Openings 50 are opposite to and substantially coaxial with the ports 20 of burners 10. Openings 50 are dimensioned so as to cause a substantially elongated spout of flame to be emitted therefrom upon lighting of pilot tube 45. The spout of flame from pilot tube 45 extends through port 20 of burners 10 into the center or eye of the vortex formed in vortex generator 32 to ignite combustible mixture adjacent thereto. The swirling combustible mixture in burner 10 and heat exchanger tube 4 tends to disperse the pilot established flame radially outward to spread the flame throughout the combustible mixture thereby rapidly igniting the combustible mixture. Additionally, the pilot flame Contributes energy in the form of heat to the heating apparatus.

If desired, outer tube-like part 23 of burners 10 may be omitted. In that circumstance, the combustible mixture from line 35 passes directly through the port dedefined by the outer surface of part 22 and the overlapping portion of vortex generator 32 into the vortex generator.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings, the heating apparatus 1 therein shown has a plurality of burners Each burner 10' comprises a tube or port 53 in direct communication with a source of combustible medium, such as manifold 59, having an opposite end opening into vortex generator 32'. Vortex generator 32' has plural openings 38' therein tangential to the axis of tube 53. Burners 10', tubes 53 and manifold 59 are encased in a suitable housing (not shown) in communication with a suitable source of pressurized combustion air. Opening 54 in tube 53 allows primary mixing of the combustion air with the gaseous medium flowing through tube 53. Additionally, combustion air passes into tangential openings 38' in vortex generator 32 to cause the combustible mixture emitted from tube 53 to swirl into a vortex-like pattern as described heretofore.

Vortex generators 32 of burners 10 are series connected by a plurality of conduits 55. Connecting conduits 55 are downstream of tangentially disposed combustion air admitting passages 38. Line 58 communicates each of the conduits 55 with manifold 59.

A single suitable ignition means, such as spark device 56, is operatively disposed adjacent one of the burners 10'.

The swirling or vortex pattern established in heat exchanger tubes 4 by the tangential introduction of pressurized combustion air drives a portion of the combustible mixture into the connecting conduits 55. Additional combustible medium is supplied to conduits 55 by lines 58. Pilot 56 lights the burner 10' operatively associated therewith. Burner 10 fires the combustible mixture in the conduit 55 connected thereto and the flame passes in succession via the interconnected burners and conduits to light all burners of the heating apparatus. Where burner 10' comprises an intermediate burner, it is understood that the pilot flame is propagated simultaneously in opposite directions through conduits 55.

Connecting conduits 55 may be connected to heat exchanger tubes 4' rather than the vortex generators 32'. As a further alternative, lines 58 communicating conduits 55 with the combustible medium may be dispensed where desired.

By the present multiple burner firing mechanism there is provided a simple, economical and certain arrangement for rapidly igniting the several burners from a single pilot flame source. The firing mechanism of the present invention utilizes the gaseous vortex pattern generated in each burner to distribute the pilot established flame into intimate contact with the combustible mixture thereby insuring rapid, uniform and complete lighting of the mixture.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a heating apparatus, the combination of means forming a plurality of individual heating elements, each of said heating elements including a heat exchange member, and a burner arranged to introduce a com-bustible mixture into said heat exchange member; means for introducing pressurized air tangentially into said burners to cause a combustible mixture in said burners to swirl and form a vortex; and means for igniting said heating elements from a single pilot flame including conduit means operatively connected between said heating elements for transmitting said pilot flame into juxtaposition with the combustible mixture vortex in each burner whereby said vortex distributes said pilot established flame throughout said combustible mixture to ignite said mixture and fire each of said burners; and means for generating a pilot flame in operative association with said conduit means.

2. Heating apparatus according to claim 1 in which each of said burners includes an open ended passage substantially coaxial with said combustible mixture vortex, said conduit means comprising a tube-like part spacedly positioned adjacent each of said burners, said part having an opening therein opposite and substantially coaxial with each of said burner passages, said part communicating with said combustible mixture so that upon lighting of the combustible mixture in said part said pilot flame protrudes from each of said openings through said burner paggages into said combustible mixture vortex.

3. Heating apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conduit means is arranged to series connect each of said heating elements at a point downstream of said air introducing means, said combustible mixture vortex forcing a portion of said combustible mixture radially outwardly into said conduit means, said pilot flame generating means being arranged to fire one of said burners and light the combustible mixture in the conduit means, whereby each of the remaining burners is successively fired.

4. Heating apparatus according to claim 3 including means communicating said conduit means directly with said combustible mixture at a point between each of said burners.

5. Heating apparatus according to claim 3 in which said conduit means is joined between said heat exchanger members.

6; Heating apparatus according to claim 3 in which said conduit means is joined between said burners.

7. In a heating apparatus, the combination of heat exchange means including plural heat exchanger tubes; a burner for each of said heat exchanger tubes, each of said burners having a pair of substantially concentric ports opening into its associated heat exchanger tube; means connecting the outer port of each burner with a source of combustible mixture; a source of pressurized air; each of said burners having at least one passage in communication with said pressurized air and downstream of the connection of said burner outer port with the combustible mixture source, the axis of said passage being tangential to the axis of said ports whereby said pressurized air causes said combustible mixture to swirl and form a vortex; and ignition means for said burners including a tube-like element in communication with combustible mixture arranged adjacent each of said burners, said element having an opening therein opposite each of said burner inner ports from which a pilot flame is adapted to project, said inner ports transmitting said pilot flame into said combustible mixture vortex to light the combustible mixture and fire said burners; and means for lighting combustible mixture in said element.

8. Heating apparatus according to claim 7 in which said heat exchanger tubes are substantially U-shaped.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. DUA, Assistant Examiner. 

2. HEATING APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1 IN WHICH EACH OF SAID BURNERS INCLUDES AN OPEN ENDED PASSAGE SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH SAID COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE VORTEX, SAID CONDUIT MEANS COMPRISING A TUBE-LIKE PART SPACEDLY POSITIONED ADJACENT EACH OF SAID BURNERS, SAID PART HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN OPPOSITE AND SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH EACH OF SAID BURNER PASSAGES, SAID PART COMMUNICATING WITH SAID COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE SO THAT UPON LIGHTING OF THE COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE IN SAID PILOT FLAME PROTRUDES FROM EACH OF SAID OPENINGS THROUGH SAID BURNER PASSAGES INTO SAID COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE VORTEX. 